Loaiza faces drunken driving, speeding charges

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Athletics pitcher Esteban Loaiza faced drunken driving and speeding charges after exceeding 120 mph on a freeway in his Ferrari, prosecutors said Thursday.

Loaiza, 34, was jailed early Wednesday after he failed a sobriety test near San Lorenzo, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Wright. He was released from jail later that day.

The Alameda County district attorney's office said it decided Thursday to press misdemeanor drunken driving and excessive speed charges against the right-hander. He was scheduled to appear in court July 14.

"This is a very serious situation," A's manager Ken Macha said. "You hope everybody takes care of their well-being. I asked him how he was doing, and he said he was all right. He's concerned with what may happen."

Loaiza, 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA, took the mound Thursday against the Mariners, his second start since coming off the disabled list.

Loaiza signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the A's in November after playing with the Washington Nationals in 2005.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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